Critical Reading and Annotation Skills

Presented by Jee HwangSeptember 19, 2012

Reading for the purpose of discovering

information and ideas within text Evaluative and analytical Goal oriented Unbiased

What is Critical Reading?

Preview Re-read Annotate Contextualize Question Reflect Outline and Summarize Evaluate Compare

Critical Reading Strategies

Read front and back covers Read table of contents Search info about book and author on internet

Preview

Re-visit interesting or confusing sections Read slowly the second or third time

Re-read

Short summaries Comments and questions Underline and define keywords Bracket important sections Make an idea map Number related points

Annotate

Place text in its:

Historical Biographical Cultural Intellectual context

Contextualize

Write questions when author’s arguments or

reasoning seems confusing

Question

Be aware of your emotional responses to text This will help you stay objective in your

readings

Reflect

Identify the main arguments and re-state

them in your own words

Outline and Summarize

Did the text change the way you think or feel

about the subject?

Evaluate

How are the arguments, methods, and prose

style similar to others you have read?

Compare